Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz has approved a plan for the conquest of Gaza City and authorised the call-up of around 60,000 reservists, his ministry confirmed on Wednesday.
The move comes as mediators — Qatar, Egypt, and the United States — await Israel’s official response to the latest ceasefire proposal, which Hamas has already signaled support for.
Ceasefire Proposal
The framework approved by Hamas includes:
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A 60-day truce,
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A staggered release of Israeli hostages,
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The freeing of Palestinian prisoners,
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Expanded humanitarian aid access into Gaza.
Qatar described the proposal as “almost identical” to one Israel previously accepted, while Egypt said “the ball is now in Israel’s court.” Israeli officials, however, reiterated that any deal must ensure the release of all hostages.
Ongoing Conflict
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the new plan. Last week, he said Israel would only accept an agreement that releases hostages “at once and according to our conditions for ending the war.”
Meanwhile, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli strikes killed 48 people across the territory on Tuesday, describing the situation in Gaza City neighborhoods as “very dangerous and unbearable.” The Israeli military said it was targeting Hamas militants and took “feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm.”
Humanitarian Strain
With continued bombardments, civilians in Gaza struggle to secure basic supplies. In northern Gaza, residents described food aid — including flour — as “white gold,” underscoring the worsening humanitarian crisis.
Background
The war began with Hamas’s October 2023 attack, which killed 1,219 people in Israel, mostly civilians. Since then, Israel’s offensive has left at least 62,064 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s health ministry figures, considered reliable by the United Nations.
